Herald - Issue 419

Page 4 • The HERALD • 17th February 2022 v SEND ALL YOUR LOCAL NEWS TO THE HERALD v dirty oven...? Andy Neal, 41 Sea Road, Barton on Sea Head Office: 67 Barkham Ride, Wokingham, Berks RG40 4HA Free: 0800 140 9800 or Mobile: 07712 567691 www.ovenu.co.uk don’t worry... help is at hand From Ovenu®, the UK’s leading oven valeting company! Our franchised technicians remove grease, fat and burnt on carbon deposits in around three hours to an amazing standard... guaranteed. Our caustic free system offers a safe alternative to conventional methods. Hundreds of delighted clients every week use Ovenu... why not call today for a free quotation. We also clean hobs, hoods and microwaves to the same standards. SOLENT SKIP HIRE FOR ALL YOUR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTE MINI ~ MIDI ~ MAXI EXTRA REACH VEHICLES WE COVER YOUR AREA 023 8066 0123 Email: solent.skiphire@btconnect.com • New flooring & repairs • Interior & exterior fitted windows & doors • Fitted kitchens • Stairs & decking • Architrave & skirting • Pergolas & car ports • Gates made & fitted • Bespoke Summer houses • Garden structures & landscaping structures • Roofing & Fencing • Fencing • Structural wooden repairs James Powell Carpentry Jamespowellcarpentry.co.uk and find on Check a Trade Contact 07500 113098 Call for a no obligation quote Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH Read Easy Southampton Launch Event A Launch event for Southampton Read Easy was held at the Mayor’s Parlour in the Civic Centre on Monday 24th January. Read Easy UK are a national charity that help adults learn to read and there are groups throughout the country. e Southampton group formed in June 2021 and have been busy fundraising, recruiting and training coaches and Two former readers who have completed the programme through the Winchester group spoke about their experiences and the bene ts it has brought to their lives. Steve Scovell concealed his inability to read until he was in his 40’s. Speaking at the event he said: “I started reading when I was 49 years old and I have been part of Read Easy for six years now. It’s completely changed my life. It has helped me make friends, go shopping and eat out”. e Co-ordinator for the group Allison Walker gave a presentation about how the reading programme works. She said: “We know that coming forward to learn to read as an adult is a big step but there’s no reason to feel embarrassed or nervous. Read Easy coaches are so supportive and patient and take it at the pace of each individual reader. The sessions are one-on-one as well so it’s nothing like a classroom environment, for those who had bad experiences at school”. e Southampton group now have 13 readers working with coaches and many more on the waiting list who are currently being paired up. It is estimated there are more than 5000 adults across the Southampton region who have major problems reading. e impact on those with literacy problems is tremendous: low self- esteem, di culties with employment, and struggling with everyday activities such as shopping, paying bills and travelling. e group have formed very successful links with various agencies across the city and are receiving referrals to the scheme. Guests at the event included sta from the Workers Education Association, the probation service and Southampton Voluntary Services. Members of the public can also refer themselves and family and friends are encouraged to get in touch if they wish to help someone they know who is struggling with reading. e Southampton group hope to reach as many people as possible and provide them with a supportive and transformative experience as they learn to read with their coach. Organisations interested in becoming a referral partner who can refer readers to the group should contact: southamptonnetworker2@readeasy.org.uk To find out more about learning to read as an adult contact: southamptoncoordinator@readeasy. org.uk All Read Easy groups must raise their own budget with continuous fundraising campaigns that run throughout the year. Anyone who wishes to nd out more or get involved should contact: southamptonfundraiser@readeasy.org.uk Read Easy Southampton is on social media – follow on twitter @ReadEasySoton and follow their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ReadEasySouthampton From left to right: David Owen, Kate Stone, Catherine Hartley, Susan Middleton, Nick Mabey, Alison Ford, Naomi Clarke, Allison Walker and Dave Overell nding readers to support. All the management team and coaches are volunteers and every group is required to raise their own budget to fund the project. e reader is paired with their own personal coach and they meet twice a week in an approved safe space. e service is con dential and entirely free. Opening the event, the Mayor of Southampton Cllr Alex Houghton said: “It is fantastic to be here at the launch of Read Easy Southampton. Being able to read means so much to everyone and if you haven’t got that skill, it can be a real obstacle in life”.